Airport gets acting aviation director

Mark E. Gale, who oversees operations and facilities at Philadelphia International Airport, yesterday was named acting aviation director.

Gale, 46, will take over for Charles J. Isdell, who retires today as aviation director after almost 40 years working for the city.

"As we conduct a national search for a permanent director, there is no question that the airport is in good hands with Mark's considerable experience and recognized leadership abilities," Mayor Nutter said.

The mayor and Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler appointed Gale, who begins his new duties tomorrow.

Since 2001, Gale has been deputy director of aviation for operations and facilities at Philadelphia International Airport.

In that job, he supervised managers in all day-to-day airport operations, ranging from security, safety, maintenance and information technology, to engineering design and construction, emergency plans, grounds and snow removal. He also oversees daily operations at Northeast Philadelphia Airport.

Gale has a bachelor's degree in aeronautical studies from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., where he graduated in 1987.

He was born and reared in Levittown, and he now lives in the city's Fox Chase section.

He began his career at Philadelphia airport in 1989, and he has had a variety of operations posts. From 1996 to 2000, he was airport operations manager.

In 2003, Gale was named by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Aviation as aviation facility manager of the year. He is a member of the American Association of Airport Executives and served on several industry committees and the Airports Council International, North America.

Isdell had been aviation director since 2000. He notified Nutter of his decision to retire after being confronted this month by a Fox29 reporter who had videotaped him commuting to work from his wife's home in Cherry Hill. Municipal employees are required to live in the city.